Baseball: JSerra clinches Trinity League title

JSerra is young, talented and can finally call itself the 2014 Trinity League champions.

Despite having just one senior in its starting lineup, the Lions (19-6, 11-3) clinched the outright league title on Tuesday with an 8-3 victory over Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Sam Cohen had an RBI triple, Greg Shockey and Jake Pries had RBI doubles and freshman Jack Owen threw 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief. Quentin Longrie, whose father went to Mater Dei, struck out six and walked five while allowing two hits in 4 2/3 innings to pick up the victory.

JSerra Coach Brett Kay, another Mater Dei grad, said, “This team has come a long ways and played super baseball.”

Texas-bound Parker Joe Robinson hit a home run in the sixth. JSerra has seven players on its roster committed or signed with NCAA Division I teams.

The victory will allow JSerra to relax a little for Thursday’s regular-season finale at Mater Dei, but there’s no cruising for the Monarchs. It’s either win on Thursday with freshman Nick Pratto on the mound or there will be no Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Mater Dei is 12-13 overall and needs a .500 record to qualify as a fourth-place team.

Blake Burton had a home run for the Monarchs, who struggled at times defensively. Charlie Vorsheck took the loss.

Santa Margarita improved to 9-5 in the Trinity League with a 5-0 win over St. John Bosco. Dillon Miyashiro threw a one-hitter, striking out six. Kevin Thomsen had two hits and two RBIs. Orange Lutheran defeated Servite, 9-1. Ryan Watts had three RBIs. The Lancers are tied with Santa Margarita for second place.